Discerning a difference between streamers is difficult...only me or common for all?

@dhite71 when you’re on Audiogon home page click on the hamburger menu at top right, then click your username, click My Virtual Systems. When you get to next page couck the Action drop down and select edit. You should be able to see the option to add images.

I said I won’t call BS but I will question your findings. Not the same as considering calling BS.

There are too many factors that can impact the difference you perceive between streamers or DACs or any other components when compared. This includes what I mentioned in my original post as well as how you compare…meaning the actual method/strategy used to compare components. In example you have both streamers playing the same song from qobuz and they’re connected to different inputs on your DAC and you repeatedly and rapidly switch back and forth as opposed to taking your time with each unit to analyze the sound and other attributes and make notes on sonic characteristics of each. When you compare phono amps, you take your time to listen to each unit playing at least one full song before you flip to the other phono stage that involves disconnecting and reconnecting. Just few examples.
There is an approach to everything.

If you hear different digital cables sound different but you can’t discern differences between streamers, it’s fine by me. I’m just questioning your approach. There’s not enough information in your OP to go by

To add…I’m not familiar with DAC 9 but I did own CD3 MkII back in a day with LS-25 and Ref 1 preamps. Huge fan of Audio Research and loved the CD3.
I’ve also had Ref 6 in my system recently and compared it to Pass XP-22 driving X260.8 amps into Wilson Sabrina. So our systems are somewhat similar.
I usually agree with @lalitk but this time I have to respectfully disagree at least when it comes to Ref 6. In my experience it doesn’t homogenize anything upstream. I also can’t see how DAC 9 can possibly be streamer agnostic but react to digital cable changes. 

It is possible for a DAC to reclock, even when SPDIF is used.  The DAC 9 manual indicates that it uses “reclocking for all outputs”.   I think that may be why the streamer wouldn’t matter, even using SPDIF.  In addition, the purpose of reclocking is to eliminate jitter from the incoming signal.  If a source is a low jitter device to begin with, reclocking may have de minimus effect.

@audphile1 

While I respect your opinion and take on Ref 6, I would like to point out an important distinction - you do not have an all out ARC system.  At the time, I was running Aurender N10 through DAC9 ➡️ Ref 6 ➡️ GS150 and I could discern no appreciable differences between N10 and BS Vault feeding SPDIF/BNC inputs of DAC9. 

Later, switching to EMM Labs DA2 DAC revealed the not so subtle differences between the two aforementioned streamers. So my previous post was strictly referencing my experience with N10/Vault in an all out ARC system. 

This has been an enjoyable discussion to learn of others' experiences.  I definitely feel more confident but still puzzled that these Aurender streamers are not showing more of an improvement in my system.  I enjoy trying new equipment so will look at other brands when it makes sense.  For now, I am enjoying the cable upgrade, I just talked to Captain at Audio Envy and ordered his coax.